The Commerce Casino is the home for this week's tournament...a very special
tournament run BY the World Poker Tour. It's the WPT Invitational, a
big-money WPT tournament and a Hollywood Home Game all rolled into one.
And the best part about this tournament is...it's a $200,000 "freeroll".
As the title indicates, this tournament is invitation-only...and the 196 poker
pros and celebrities invited didn't have to pay ONE RED CENT to enter the
tournament! But the winner STILL gets $100,000 and, more importantly, a
$25,000 buy-in for the WPT Championship at the Bellagio!

Unfortunately, unlike last year, not a single celeb made the Final Table
(though Celebrity Poker Showdown host Dave Foley, who had NEVER played
before, got to 11th place, the best celeb in the tournament). However, we DO have six great pros ready to battle for the WPT
Championship chair. And they are:

PLAYER

CHIP COUNT

John
JuandaRunner up at first-ever WPT event;
former Player of the Year

With Mike Sexton and Vince Van Patton ready to call the action with the WPT Cams,
it's time to SHUFFLE UP AND DEAL!

Antes start at $1,000 and the blinds start at $4,000 (SB) and
$8,000 (BB).

Antonio

Phil

Humberto

John (D)

Harry (SB)

Joe (BB)

J♥10♠

2♥2♠

J♠8♣

K♦6♠

8♥5♦

K♣9♥

FOLD

Raises to $41,000

FOLD

FOLD

FOLD

FOLD

WIN $59,000

Most poker hands are
won by default like this. Truth be told, Phil's "ducks"
would've been a VERY slight favorite against any ONE of these hands.

John

Harry

Joe

Antonio (D)

Phil (SB)

Humberto (BB)

Q♦2♣

7♦3♣

A♣J♥

9♥6♣

4♠4♥

6♦5♦

FOLD

FOLD

Raises to $23,000

Raises to $63,000

FOLD

FOLD

Calls $40,000

Joe is a 65% favorite right
now.

FLOP: A♥10♥A♦

Joe has flopped a
"set" of "bullets"...and Antonio is drawing dead.

CHECK

CHECK

TURN: 9♣

Bets $60,000

FOLD

WIN $204,000

CURRENT CHIP COUNT

John Juanda

$848,000

Joe Cassidy

$354,000

Harry Demetriou

$290,000

Humberto Brenes

$258,000

Phil Laak

$127,000

Antonio Esfandiari

$118,000

Antonio

Phil

Humberto

John (D)

Harry (SB)

Joe (BB)

3♠3♥

10♦10♣

A♦4♣

5♦5♣

8♦2♠

Q♣4♦

ALL-IN$117,000

Calls $117,000

FOLD

FOLD

FOLD

FOLD

Phil is a MAJOR
favorite with his "tension" over Antonio's
"crabs". Antonio needs a 3...and Phil (after shadow boxing a
bit) gets the crowd to chant for a 3. (That's right...I said FOR a
3."

FLOP: 6♠J♦4♥
TURN: 2♦

Antonio needs
either a 3 for "trips"...or a 5 for a straight.

RIVER: 9♣COMMUNITY: 6♠J♦4♥2♦9♣

3♠3♥J♦9♣6♠

10♦10♣J♦9♣6♠

OUT
- 6th Place

WIN $252,000

Humberto

John

Harry (D)

Joe (SB)

Phil (BB)

K♠2♠

6♠3♥

4♠2♣

Q♥8♦

8♠5♠

FOLD

FOLD

FOLD

Calls $4,000

CHECK

FLOP: J♠Q♦7♥

Bets $20,000

Raises to $60,000

ALL-IN$336,000

FOLD

After raising,
Phil pulls the hood of his sweatshirt closed to hide any
"tells". Joe took it as a sign of weakness and re-raised,
forcing Phil to fold.

WIN
$417,000

John

Harry

Joe (D)

Phil (SB)

Humberto (BB)

6♥4♥

A♠A♣

6♦5♠

K♣10♥

Q♦2♦

FOLD

Raises to $30,000

FOLD

ALL-IN$238,000

FOLD

ALL-IN$115,000

Harry's
"American Airlines" are an 86% favorite to win against Phil's
"woodcutter". Phil's bet, however, is lowered to match
Harry's all-in, since they ARE playing "table stakes". Phil
will not be eliminated if he loses.

FLOP: J♦9♥2♠

Phil now has a
chance; he's flopped an inside straight draw, needing a Queen to hit it and
knock Harry out.

TURN: 3♣RIVER: K♦

A♠A♣K♦J♦9♥

K♣K♦ J♦10♥9♥

WIN $273,000

CURRENT CHIP COUNT

John Juanda

$911,000

Joe Cassidy

$505,000

Harry Demetriou

$243,000

Humberto Brenes

$213,000

Phil Laak

$123,000

Harry

Joe

Phil (D)

Humberto (SB)

John (BB)

8♠2♣

Q♥5♦

10♥4♥

K♣J♠

7♣6♣

FOLD

FOLD

FOLD

Calls $4,000

CHECK

FLOP: 10♣Q♦9♣

Humberto flopped a
King-high straight! BUT,...John has a "straight-flush
draw". An 8 won't help because he'll only have a 10-high straight,
but a club would beat Humberto with a flush...and an 8 of CLUBS will give him
a straight flush, the best poker hand possible!

Bets $14,000

ALL-IN$902,000

ALL-IN$204,000

Again, John's bet
is lowered to match Humberto's all-in. All John needs is a club in two
cards...

TURN: A♥

Now, John REALLY
needs a club; the Ace gives Humberto "Broadway" or the "nut
flush". ONLY a flush can beat it now.

RIVER: 10♦

A♥K♣Q♦J♠10♣

10♣10♦A♥Q♦9♣

WIN $429,000

Antes have gone up to $2,000 and blinds are now $6,000 (SB) and $12,000 (BB).

John

Harry

Joe (D)

Phil (SB)

Humberto (BB)

K♦7♣

K♠10♠

A♠J♦

7♦5♥

Q♠7♠

FOLD

Raises to $35,000

Raises to $85,000

FOLD

FOLD

ALL-IN$117,000

Calls $32,000

Joe is a 3-to-2 favorite with
his "Ajax".

FLOP: J♥Q♣3♣

Joe flopped "middle
pair"...but Harry has an open-ended straight draw, needing an Ace or a 9.

TURN: 8♣
RIVER: 8♥

8♣8♥
K♠Q♣
J♥

J♦J♥8♣8♥A♠

OUT
- 5th Place

WIN $262,000

CURRENT CHIP COUNT

John Juanda

$1,305,000

Joe Cassidy

$362,000

Phil Laak

$199,000

Humberto Brenes

$129,000

Humberto

John (D)

Joe (SB)

Phil (BB)

J♥4♦

7♦5♥

A♠6♣

A♦8♣

FOLD

FOLD

Raises to $36,000

ALL-IN$197,000

Calls $161,000

While awaiting the
call, Phil does sit-ups

FLOP: 9♣3♠9♦
TURN: 10♠

AT this point, Phil
goes behind the dealer to catch a first look at the River. If an 8, a 7
or anything lower than a 6 comes off, Phil wins. If a 6 comes off, Joe
wins and Phil is gone. If a 9 or higher comes off...

RIVER: A♥

...the pot is
split. Both players have the same five-card hand: Aces and 9s with a 10
kicker. Essentially, they've won their bets back.

A♠A♥9♣9♦10♠

A♦A♥9♣9♦10♠

WIN $201,000

WIN $201,000

John

Joe (D)

Phil (SB)

Humberto (BB)

J♦J♥

8♥4♥

K♣7♣

Q♥2♦

Raises to $36,000

FOLD

ALL-IN$199,000

FOLD

Calls $163,000

John is a 68%
favorite. Again, Phil goes next to the dealer to see the cards
first. For the record, this is NOT good poker etiquette to get up from
your chair and go ANYWHERE else at the table during the course of a hand.

FLOP: K♥3♠10♦

Phil now has
"cowboys", which beats John's "hooks".

TURN: 9♣

The 9 gives John a
straight draw. He needs a Jack to make three-of-a-kind...or a Queen
for a straight.

RIVER: 9♦

J♦J♥9♣9♦K♥

K♣ K♥9♣9♦10♦

WIN $418,000

CURRENT CHIP COUNT

John Juanda

$1,114,000

Phil Laak

$448,000

Joe Cassidy

$354,000

Humberto Brenes

$79,000

Antes are still $2,000 but blinds have gone up to
$10,000 (SB) and $20,000 (BB).

Phil has 15 outs: three Aces,
four Jacks, two 10s and six other diamonds (besides the Ace and Jack of
diamonds).

RIVER: 8♦

K♦8♦7♦6♦
5♦

K♦10♦7♦6♦8♦

WIN $552,000

Though both have a diamond
flush, Phil has King-10-high while Joe has King-8-high.

Joe

Phil (D)

Humberto (SB)

John (BB)

Q♠4♠

7♣3♦

A♥9♦

6♦4♦

ALL-IN$17,000

FOLD

Calls $10,000

CHECK

Joe could not call
the $20,000 Big Blind, so he went all-in for less. $3,000 from
Humberto's and John's bets go into a side pot, since Joe cannot win more
from any one player than he, himself, puts in. Humberto and John can
still bet into the side pot which Joe cannot win.

FLOP: K♥6♠5♥

CHECK

CHECK

TURN: 10♦

CHECK

CHECK

RIVER: 7♠COMMUNITY: K♥10♦7♠6♠5♥

CHECK

CHECK

Obviously, Humberto
and John did not WANT to bet into the side pot.

K♥Q♠10♦7♠6♠

A♥K♥10♦9♦
7♠

6♦6♠K♥10♦7♠

OUT
- 4th Place

WIN $59,000
(Main)
WIN $6,000 (Side)

CURRENT CHIP COUNT

John Juanda

$1,252,000

Phil Laak

$528,000

Humberto Brenes

$215,000

That doesn't last, though; over time, Phil takes a small chip
lead

Phil (D)

Humberto (SB)

John (BB)

9♣7♠

A♠Q♦

K♥J♣

FOLD

ALL-IN$156,000

Calls $136,000

Humberto's about a
3-2 fave with "Big Chick".

FLOP: 5♣10♥5♥
TURN: J♦

John's
"hooks" is a 4-to-1 now. The only two things that can save
Humberto is a Queen or...

RIVER: A♣

...an Ace.
ANOTHER double-up by John!

A♠A♣5♣5♥Q♦

J♣J♦5♣5♥
A♣

WIN $318,000

Humberto (D)

John (SB)

Phil (BB)

4♥4♦

6♠2♠

Q♣9♣

Raises to $60,000

FOLD

Calls $40,000

Before the Flop is
even dealt, Phil says, "Check". This is a legal and binding
call; Phil couldn't change his mind if, say,...

Phil gets the crowd to
chant what he needs to knock Humberto out: "Club-Queen-nine!
Club-Queen-nine!"

RIVER: K♠

K♣K♠4♥4♦7♠

K♣K♠Q♣9♣7♠

WIN $718,000

CURRENT CHIP COUNT

Phil Laak

$767,000

Humberto Brenes

$733,000

John Juanda

$495,000

Antes have gone up to $3,000 and blinds are now $15,000 (SB) and $30,000 (BB).

Phil (D)

Humberto (SB)

John (BB)

10♣7♣

9♣4♣

3♥2♦

Calls $30,000

FOLD

Calls $0

FLOP: 6♦7♥7♠

Phil has flopped the
"slot machine" (7-7-7)!

Bets $35,000

Raises to $70,000

Raises to $120,000

Calls $50,000

Phil didn't bet
big in the HOPES that John would at least call. It was more than he
DREAMED of that John would try to bluff him out of the pot.

TURN: 6♣

Phil now has a full
house, sevens full of sixes. And John...has bubkis!

CHECK

Raises to $30,000

FOLD

WIN $354,000

Time passes...

CURRENT CHIP COUNT

Phil Laak

$1,006,000

Humberto Brenes

$679,000

John Juanda

$310,000

Phil (D)

Humberto (SB)

John (BB)

K♥Q♥

A♥7♣

A♣4♦

Raises to $100,000

FOLD

ALL-IN$307,000

Calls $207,000

John is a 54%
favorite for now.

FLOP: Q♠3♥2♦

So much for
that. Phil has the "ladies"...but John has a "wheel
draw", needing a 5 for an Ace-low straight. An Ace would give him
a higher pair as well.

TURN: 7♦
RIVER: 4♠

Q♥Q♠K♥7♦4♠

4♦4♠A♣Q♠7♦

WIN $638,000

OUT
- 3rd Place

So we're down to the Irish eccentric and the Costa Rican
pro. And you know that means...HEADS-UP! The winner gets the
100 grand (and not the candy bar mind you) and the WPT Championship seat.

CURRENT CHIP COUNT

Phil Laak

$1,565,000

Humberto Brenes

$430,000

Oh, sure, it LOOKS insurmountable...but just ONE double-up
by Humberto and the game's more-or-less tied!

Antes have gone up to $5,000 and blinds are now $25,000 (SB) and $50,000 (BB).

Phil (D) (SB)

Humberto (BB)

Q♥7♣

3♦3♣

ALL-IN$1,560,000

ALL-IN$425,000

Phil's
bet is lowered. Humberto's "crabs" are a 53% fave.
Phil needs a Queen or a 7 to take the lead.

FLOP: 4♠10♣J♣
TURN: 10♦
RIVER: 9♣

10♣10♦Q♥J♣9♣

3♦3♣10♣10♦J♣

WIN $860,000

CURRENT CHIP COUNT

Humberto Brenes

$1,385,000

Phil Laak

$610,000

See? Now HUMBERTO has a 2-1 chip lead!

Over time, the antes go up to $10,000 and blinds to $40,000 (SB) and $80,000 (BB).

Phil (D) (SB)

Humberto (BB)

A♠2♦

K♣8♣

ALL-IN$600,000

Calls $520,000

FLOP: J♥Q♣8♦

Humberto has pulled
ahead with a pair of "snowmen"

TURN: 6♠

The only thing that
can beat Humberto and continue the tournament is...

RIVER: A♥

...yeah...you guessed
it.

A♠A♥Q♣J♥8♦

8♣8♦A♥K♣Q♣

WIN
$1,220,000

This makes FIVE
times Phil has "outdrawn" his opponent in a crucial hand.

Humberto (D) (SB)

Phil (BB)

J♠2♦

A♣K♣

ALL-IN$765,000

Calls $685,000

It's possible
Humberto was "on tilt" from the last hand. He says, "I
like the action" before going all-in. But Phil's "Big
Slick" is a HUGE fave. Humberto needs some help.

FLOP: Q♦4♠9♥
TURN: 4♥

To stay alive,
Humberto needs a Jack or...

RIVER: K♥

...a 2! Fooled
ya, didn't I?

4♠4♥K♥Q♦J♠

K♣K♥4♠4♥A♣

OUT
- 2nd Place

TOURNAMENT
WINNER!

1ST

PHIL
LAAK

$100,000

2nd

Humberto Brenes

$38,000

3rd

John Juanda

$18,000

4th

Joe Cassidy

$14,000

5th

Harry Demetriou

$10,000

6th

Antonio Esfandiari

$8,000

So the "Unabomber", starting the day in dead last,
wins his first WPT title. He also advances to the WPT Championship with a
$25,000 buy-in. As for David Foley, the last celeb out...he gets $5000 to
his favorite charity...just like the losers on Celebrity Poker Showdown.
Hmmmm...